The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-10

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ed out of his sight, and his ground
brought forth abundantly no more; and
it was as if God had forsaken him in
unexplained and terrible anger, and
given him over as a prey to the enemy.
Yea, his wife also spake not word of
sympathy, but talked of death as the
only release from grief so uncomfortable.
Now, when the new leaders of human
thought heard of all the evil that was
come upon Job, they came every one
from his own place: Huxley the Molec-
ulite, John Stuart the Millite, and Tyn-
dali the Sadducee. And when they
lifted up their eyes afar off and saw Job,
more shadow than man, they wills
pered to each other, {" This comes of re-
ligious faith" and they fastened to-
ward him with swift feet So they sat
down beside the shattered man, and in
less than seven seconds Stuart the Mill
tie began, metaphorically, to throw
stones at his bewildered head.
Just what might have been expect
ed,' said he; "this comes of your star
gazing, and of reading the patriarchs,
instead of watching the markets. al
ways say that a man brings all this sort
of thing upon himself; and that as he
makes his bed, so he must lie upon it.
Be your own god, and then pray as
much as you like. Humanity is divine"
But Job answered and said: 90 that
my grief were understood, and that We
could heal the pain that is in my heartl
for then would bless you as those who
speak wise words. Behold, this cometh
not of mine own hand; for wherein
have l dared the Most High to over
whelm me p''
Then answered Huxley the Molecul-
ito and said: " Cease from thy anguish
ing, nor let thy repining any longer be
heard. Understand thou that this dis
turbance is entirely molecular: by some
means or other the molecules have got
into disordered condition, and that
singular Whitley brown fluid found in the
heads of human animals has become
little added, diluted, or otherwise in
jured, and hence these phenomena. All
animal life is more or less subject to
this visitation; and, viewed scientifi-
cally, yours, Job, is a singularly beau
tiful case.''
Whereupon Job moaned in the bitter
ness of his soul. and cried, saying, 90
that my children were about me as in
the days that are gone, and that 1 could
recall the light which made my home a
scene of gladness! If not, would God 1
might die and be at rest! My children!
my childrenl whence have ye fled from
me ?''
Then answered Tyndall the Sadducee,
and said: THY children have melted
into the infinite azure of the past, as all
living things must melt. They have
gone again to the dust; but in their de-
composition there will be liberated
gases and other elements, which min
Cling with the general chemistry of ma
ture, will contribute somewhat to the
nourishment of animals and plants; and
in this way the decomposed children of
Job will be of great use in the chemic
economy Of the universe"
Then was Job full of indignation, and
his soul was overwhelmed within him.
Miserable comforters are We ALL" said
he; land yours is the wisdom of fools.
Have ye seen sore trouble, and has your
day suddenly been turned into night, or
have your eyes stood out with fairness,
and your souls been long at ease? Know
ye what it is to be carried away as with
flood, and to be thrown down as with
an irresistible arm? Your words are
strange to me, and your speech with
out SAVIOR"
Then answered J ohm Stuart the Mill
tie, and said, Are thy children more
than the children of other men that
they should live forever? Reform the
sanitary arrangement of the country,
AOcuAh q eAOAouShiy lCpAOoOiphcAfO PoA
lament to st. Stephens, give woman
the franchise, and let all leading arti-
Giles be signed by the names of the writ
ers, and then we may look for better
health, higher wages, and more general
comfort. This you may call utilitari-
anism, but l call it common sense"
And Huxley the Moleculite, said
"Why grieve for children, and why
moan and groan over the inevitable ?
You should take a scientific view of
all things. What my friend the Sad
ducee has said is strictly scientific. We
live one upon another all through and
through creation. We find the origin
of protoplasm in the vegetable world:
the plants drink the fluid containing
carbonic acid, water and ammonia, and
thus maintain themselves in vigor; and
then the animals, in their turn, eat the
plants, and perform high feat of con-
structive chemistry by converting dead
protoplasm into the living matter which
is appropriate to itself"
Thereupon, in paternal anguish and